About the Tour =====>>

Elan of Eulalia x Blood Centers of the Pacific Present:
The H.U.B.R.I.S. Tour: A Quest for Global Equality

Sickle Cell Disease affects 1 in 500 African Americans, whose life expectancy average is 45 years, and it costs the U.S. approximately $475 million per year in hospitalizations.  Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited blood disease, which causes severe pain, damage to vital organs, and for some death in childhood or early adulthood.  There is no common cure for Sickle Cell.

As of 2011, 25.8 million Americans have diabetes; 79 million Americans have pre-diabetes.  This is a lifelong disease in which there are high levels of sugar in the blood and for which there is no cure.  Treatment involves expensive medication and equipment, which is often unaffordable without insurance.  Those diagnosed without insurance are left marginalized and often end up with more complications than would occur with proper treatment. Heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, neuropathy, amputation, and death are among common and possible complications for those with diabetes.

Sickle Cell consistently receives terribly little to no federal funding for research and treatment facilities. The community is constantly struggling to keep clinics & hospitals open that specialize in SCD care & treatment. There is little emphasis or focus on the illness in the educational settings and we have an unacceptably low amount of medical professionals properly trained in SCD care & treatment. Many of us think it is no coincidence that this illness affects, almost solely Blacks and Hispanics.

Diabetes is most dangerous when left untreated. Without medical insurance it can be impossible for many to keep their diabetes under control and treated, when necessary medication and testing supplies can cost thousands of dollars monthly without insurance.

Healthcare equality does not exist; everyone involved with this project would agree: this is not ok!
On June 21, 2012 TheSeKondElement, accompanied by music director and drummer, Bettis, & bass phenom, BassMonsterTiff,  began a national tour in an effort to help spread the word about the two illnesses that affect them most. TheSeKondElement was diagnosed with Sickle Cell at 2-days-old and Bettis with Type I Diabetes at age 10.

The first leg of the tour started in New Orleans and culminated in San Francisco, where TheSeKondElement took SF Pride’s Main Stage by storm! After the success of the first leg, including many requests for the tour to continue, the group decided to extend the tour through the summer, dubbing themselves, The H.U.B.R.I.S. Tour.

The goal is simple: to not only entertain but spread the message of global equality & shine a light on these two illnesses that desperately need the spotlight.

Equality is a must if we are to ensure that everyone has a good quality of life. Without equality our world will forever be unbalanced, leaving the marginalized suffering. Help us help others!

HUBRIS: Having the audacious ideology & Unremitting Belief in the Revolutionary power of Inspiration to Stimulate change.

Fact Sources: http://www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/sicklecell/data.html [SCD] | http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/factsheet11.htm?loc=diabetes-statistics [diabetes]